Made fabric

My sewing room has been moved several times and it's been a bit of a challenge to sew.
I'm upstairs instead of on the first floor and the room isn't organized at all. I just have no desire to make decisions about where things should go.  This is the forth or fifth move in just a couple of years.  This still feels temporary and I'm tired of hunting for my things in the boxes.
I tried to sew some of my unfinished projects and haven't accomplished more than sewing a few pairs of blocks together but I keep bumping into my scrap box.
I decided it was telling me to play with it so I listened to it's pleas today.   Made fabric blocks were my scrap box choice so I obliged.   I made thirteen blocks and got reacquainted with my sewing machine.  We missed each other. 

July Basement

I'm not sure which of our absentee Divas are more rowdy but it was definitely a little subdued without Judy, Fran, Lynn, and Laura.  Maybe the dreary weather had something to do with it. We managed to have fun nevertheless.

 

Syd and Kathy brought knitting to pass the time while they socialized.

 

Kathy had great show and tell--this trip around the world made from a line of astrological fabric.

 

The back included leftovers and fabric gifted to her from some of the Divas for her most recent birthday.

 

Gwen and Susie worked on binding.  Imagine Susie is across from Gwen--she must have stepped away before I took this photo.  Mary Ann was working on an applique project she plans to continue on an upcoming road trip.  Dianne worked on piecing some of the blocks she'd cut for the pattern she brought a couple of months ago.

 

Here's a shot of Jan reading the directions for the piping hot binding and Ruth is quite entertained.

Even with a smaller crowd, lunch was just right--as usual.

Kathy sent an email with our challenge selection plans for September and she also mentioned that we are on hiatus for August.  If you weren't at lunch yesterday, then you missed several Divas singing See You in September. I'll leave you with that visual ...

Mary Ellen Hopkins challenge and other June photos

There was a lot to show in the basement this month; it seems like everyone had something to show. I can't believe that I forgot my camera but Lori did an excellent job as photographer, better than I do. She said the divas are fast and it isn't easy to get a shot that is not a little blurry but she didn't unintentionally cut of anyone's head.
These first photos are  pieces we have been working on but are not part of the Mary Ellen project.

Diane showed herself to be quite prolific with some large pieces. these first two quilts were made from the same fabrics and they are pretty spectacular.

She has a new Tiara quilting machine and it looks like she has been putting it to good use.

And........  another one of Diane's quilts, her 2014 Jellyroll Race quilt. She put together her own jelly roll this year and turned out to be very nice.





Several of the Divas put together their own jellyrolls for the race and we all agreed that they turned out better this year because of it. You can see photos of Race Day here.




One more of Diane's large pieces, this one is still a flimsy. Does it seem as though Diane might be falling behind?

Here is Gwen with her Bargello Graphix quilt. We all worked on the this technique together  a few years ago when we were meeting in Syd's basement and we didn't have a name yet for our group.





























Lori was sewing the final seams on her Subway quilt, she has been working on this for a while, sewing together all of those individual squares. It was well worth the effort.


 







These are all the completed "Pockets to Go" that everyone worked on last month. This is not really all of them as several were gifted to friends or family already. I yet have to make even one but I plan to make one (or more) for myself and to give away.
The rest of the photos are all from our Mary Ellen Hopkins challenge. As Kathy said we would not be where we are in our quilting journey without her. My first quilt was pieced and I thought it would be the only quilt I ever made. I visited the quilt shop from time to time and  I took the It's OK class and I was hooked. I am sure it was that way for many people. Mary Ellens books and the Quilt Sitters Circle offerings kept us inspired and we kept on making quilts.

This is one of Kathy's small pieces I see another under her arm but there is no photo of that one.







Lynn had 2 flimsies this one that she is holding is made with Kansas dugout blocks using her hand dyed fabric.

The second flimsy below is from Mary Ellen's Hidden Wells pattern. I love all the floral fabrics in this piece and I oohed and aahed  about it and Lynn gave it to me. I hesitated to take it but I finally gave in and it is now mine. If you could see me you would see a very big smile.

Maryann also made a Hidden Wells quilt. she has it layered up and ready to quilt.














On the left, we have Gwen's pink and green quilt with bowtie and 4 patch blocks and sporting a floral border.
My flimsy is on the right. It is Mary Ellen's Metamorphosis pattern from one of her "Connecting Up" books.



















This colorful piece on the left is Judy's; it is layered up and ready to quilt. I am not sure what the pattern is but I see connector corners in there. I think the piece next to it belongs to Suzie. Could this be another "Hidden Wells" with sashing? I'm sorry if  I am not getting things right; chalk it up to old age. Blogger is starting to give me a few problems too. I am losing text and having trouble moving photos. Probably because of a photo heavy post.

This is Jan's "Bricks and Mortar" flimsy. I remember this pattern from Quilt Sitters Circle.It's one I thought I would like to make but I never got around to it.





She cut a lot of rectangles and has started putting them together for another piece.

Could this be another one of Diane's pieces? Yes, it is! This is her tribute to Mary Ellen.

Here is Kathy below with the little quilt she was holding under her arm in the other photo.








Fran is holding her flimsy. I see large 4 patches and double 4 patch blocks. It is set on point with floral fabric. I think setting blocks on point was one of Mary Ellen's favorite ways to set a quilt.

I hope I am right that this little piece belongs to Lori. if not maybe someone will correct my error.






 I know the next two belong to Lori they are front and back of her quilt. I am not sure of the pattern but it reminds me of a chain link fence. Could that be the name?



 It looks like a lot of work with a lot of connector corners. Lori hit the muckled fabric concept right on. She said she had been saving it for a long time to use as a muckled fabric background for a Mary Ellen quilt.

The last shot is the back of Lori's quilt. I love the bikini print strips at the bottom.






A few of these are completely finished already and hopefully the rest will be ready by November to hang in the Tribute to Mary Ellen Hopkins at the Wildwood show in Mentor, Ohio.




 Mary Ellen may not have been the first to use strip piecing but she made it popular and her book "It's OK if You Sit On My Quilt" drew us into the process. Her very clever Quilt Sitters Circle offerings at the local quilt shops kept us coming back for more and we waited eagerly for each new book. To attend one of for lectures was pure fun and we were fortunate that she came to our area for classes more than once.

Ruth

Summer is here

Our first day of summer gathering was not disrupted by dancing sans clothes as suggested by Diva Dianne. I think she was so filled with the joy of her new Tiara machine she wanted to express herself in her sometimes over the top manner.
 We were busy little bees. So much binding going on. Judy at the machine, sewing away. Laura arrived with the freshly quilted Wildwood raffle quilt. Ready to change hands a few times before it is done.Maryann pinned up her Hidden Wells.
 Show and Tell.. fantastic. Many table pockets done with Sue having figured out a good way to bind those d&* corners. Sue was on her second pocket and many of us plan another.
 Mary Ellen Hopkins would be proud of our challenge outcome. We were to take one of her patterns that we always wanted to try or finish an old piece stated in Quilt Sitters or at one of her retreats. I think only one of us did not deliver as yet. Some still need a finishing touch or two but all will be part or our Homage to Mary Ellen at the November Wildwood quilt show. None of us would be where we are without that crazy lady.  Lori was taking pictures like mad and I know she will post a few.
 It was dessert-a -palooza at lunch time. Yes there were some main dishes and salads but what a feast of sweets. Plenty to leave behind for Brady.
  Brady and Mike were perfect hosts again. Fran and Brady were involved in some serious gun fighting but that is what summer is for.  Sherman was as well behaved as could be expected in such a rowdy crowd.
 So, there you go. Next time we will continue as we have, finishing etc and coming up with a new challenge for Sept. Sue wisely pointed out there is no use trying to plan for anything specific during the summer months.
 Anyone have an idea of what we should do next?

Just a Bit More May Basement

Ruth captured the day very well in her post. I got a couple of other pictures which I'll share here.  The group was very industrious.  I think we were all trying to power through the project in case it helped to have input from the group (and it did at times, I would say).

Syd was the only person to finish hers, including machine attached (and finished!) binding.  Whoa!  That's way beyond my skill level.  Most people got pretty far along.  Maybe we can have a runway show next month to display all of the finished Pockets.

Here are Ruth and Gwen working on basting Ruth's anvil top.

Lunch was delicious as usual and Judy wowed us with these critters.

 

Next month is the culmination of our Mary Ellen Hopkins challenge.  I can't wait to see your projects.  In other words, it's time to get started if you haven't already.

May in the Basement

The weather was not terrible but it was chilly and overcast but inside it was a great day to get together with friends.
The plan for the day was to make the Pockets to Go  organizer from Atkinson Designs like the one Lori made last month for Kathy. We were missing some people and 2 of us didn't get all our necessary supplies together but everyone else was industrious.

There were 7 people sewing and Lori had set up a large table for me (Ruth). Judy helped me get my quilt layered and Gwen helped me pin.

I'm not sure if anyone finished but Suzie, Judy and Syd were pretty close before lunch. I missed the after lunch session but it is usually a time to talk and laugh and enjoy each other company and not much sewing.

I didn't get many photos but  I had a good time visiting with everyone.

April photo post

I heard from many of you to make sure I took lots of pictures.  As usual, there were many I missed but here are a few. 

As Kathy mentioned, there were lots of great conversations.  Ask Jan about her wife badge and be sure to ask Dianne how things are going with her cutting progress.

Lynn brought some of her stash and many Quilting Arts back issues.  Many were taken but many were not.  I'll have them here to look over next month then find a home for what's left.

Jan showed her Linus jelly roll.  I think we all think she deserves an A+ for design and resourcefulness.  See, those race prizes are all hidden gems!

Jan also brought her in progress bricks and mortar.

Dianne was so intrigued that she ditched the pattern she'd brought and started planning a bricks and mortar of her own.  Here are Jan and Dianne plotting their next moves.

Fran and Gwen were layering and pinning.  I'm sure they were thankful to have company and extra hands to help.  I don't know why I didn't get close ups of their tops but they are both beautiful.

Jan presented the super secret triple four patch she's been making for Kathy ever since she got the idea many months ago (or should I say, ever since Kathy gave the directive).  Usually her powers of suggestion aren't subtle.  Jan did a great job and I think she enjoyed the scheming part A LOT.

Here is Blue Hawaii Elvis hiding in the upper corner.

Syd presented Kathy with this lovely knitted cowl. 

Lunch was great as usual.  After our meal, we had a birthday celebration.  Things were quite animated so forgive the out of focus shots.

Kathy gifted Brady with a stellar variety of peeps.
 

Next month, we plan to work on our Mary Ellen Hopkins pieces.  Some of the Divas also expressed interest in making one of the sewing organizing things that I made for Kathy (see the picture with the green gift bag and the square thing that has selvages on it).  It is designed to sit next to your machine and hold all of those little things that seem to collect there (snips, thread, scissors, tissues, whatever).  I'll send an email with a supply list and additional information for anyone who wants to do that project.

Thanks to everyone for making this a great meeting.  Ruth, Judy, Susie and MaryAnn were fondly missed and we talked (nicely) about you.